Stuff I Love: Top Ten Edition Challenge 2
Feb. 9th, 2026 03:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flo_neljaMake a Top Ten list for your favourite series and tell people exactly why you love it. This can be in any format - tv series, book series, radio plays, movie sequels, something else not mentioned here. Your series can be as short as two vaguely linked pieces of media and as long as... well, the sky is your limit. Whatever you like!
Alright! I wondered a bit if I should restrict by genre or by theme, and then remembered that on another website I'm celebrating femslash february, so
Top 10 of serial media where I ship the main(-ish) canon(-ish) f/f romance :D
( Details under the cut )
Alright! I wondered a bit if I should restrict by genre or by theme, and then remembered that on another website I'm celebrating femslash february, so
Top 10 of serial media where I ship the main(-ish) canon(-ish) f/f romance :D
( Details under the cut )
Poetry: Knight in Shining Ardour
Feb. 9th, 2026 07:34 pmadoreKnight in Shining Ardour
byadore
My rage clawed out of my chest
And stood looking around fiercely for the enemy.
He was a radiant boy,
Never allowed to be anything else.
He blazed so that my eyes were drawn to him, fascinated.
Avidly, I watched him for what he would do next.
He didn't disappoint.
When he destroyed something, I was satisfied.
I had always wanted to be rid of it.
But I'd had too much guilt or too little courage.
When he screamed, I fell in love with his voice.
He was my rockstar.
When he cried, I collected his tears in a shot glass and cheered
Before downing them in one go.
They were a tonic.
What he killed made him more alive.
He was my knight in shining ardour
And I loved him best
When he crawled back in my chest
To recover in the warm dark quiet.
by
adoreMy rage clawed out of my chest
And stood looking around fiercely for the enemy.
He was a radiant boy,
Never allowed to be anything else.
He blazed so that my eyes were drawn to him, fascinated.
Avidly, I watched him for what he would do next.
He didn't disappoint.
When he destroyed something, I was satisfied.
I had always wanted to be rid of it.
But I'd had too much guilt or too little courage.
When he screamed, I fell in love with his voice.
He was my rockstar.
When he cried, I collected his tears in a shot glass and cheered
Before downing them in one go.
They were a tonic.
What he killed made him more alive.
He was my knight in shining ardour
And I loved him best
When he crawled back in my chest
To recover in the warm dark quiet.
minarchism
Feb. 9th, 2026 06:57 amprettygoodwordminarchism (min-ar-KIZ-uhm) - n., a belief in the desirability and practicality of minimum government.
Coined in 1971 by libertarian writer Samuel Konkin, to describe what philosopher Robert Nozick proposed -- Konkin perferred what he called agorism, involving just a pure free market without any state. A minarchy is sometimes called a night-watchman state, typically described as having a military, a police, and courts, but few other functions. The coinage is from min(imal) + -archy in the sense of type of government.
---L.
Coined in 1971 by libertarian writer Samuel Konkin, to describe what philosopher Robert Nozick proposed -- Konkin perferred what he called agorism, involving just a pure free market without any state. A minarchy is sometimes called a night-watchman state, typically described as having a military, a police, and courts, but few other functions. The coinage is from min(imal) + -archy in the sense of type of government.
---L.
Pineapple tart update, with recipes
Feb. 9th, 2026 01:43 pmqianMy entire weekend got swallowed up by pineapple tarts, as I decided to make the tarts on Sunday. I made two batches of pastry, one batch with cheese and one without, following this recipe. I basically ignored the family for much of the day in order to do this, but still had to take various breaks to make lunch for the kids, eat myself, tidy up, intervene in quarrels, etc. So there were various shenanigans by way of: had to stop making tarts so put pastry in the fridge for too long and it had turned into granite by the time I returned to it; someone must have butt-dialled the oven so it wasn't the temperature I set it at and the tarts came out darker than they should be; threw away the egg wash then remembered I had 6 remaining tarts to egg-wash so they only got a milk wash and are not as pretty; etc. etc.
The cheesy batch of pastry in particular was terribly stiff and hard to work with; I couldn't roll it without it cracking all over. I think I might have overworked the dough? In any case, my pastry doesn't seem to come together the way What to Cook Today suggests it will, so I'm going to put a rewritten recipe for pineapple tarts below -- what worked for ME. Fortunately the resulting tarts all taste great. I keep eating them to try to figure out if I like cheese-free or cheesy better, but it's hard to decide!
( Pineapple jam recipe )
( Pineapple tarts recipe )
The cheesy batch of pastry in particular was terribly stiff and hard to work with; I couldn't roll it without it cracking all over. I think I might have overworked the dough? In any case, my pastry doesn't seem to come together the way What to Cook Today suggests it will, so I'm going to put a rewritten recipe for pineapple tarts below -- what worked for ME. Fortunately the resulting tarts all taste great. I keep eating them to try to figure out if I like cheese-free or cheesy better, but it's hard to decide!
( Pineapple jam recipe )
( Pineapple tarts recipe )
Roleplay
Feb. 9th, 2026 03:22 pmcatnessFinally trying out this "work safety issues" AI roleplay stuff everyone's talking about.
( It was an intense session, but I still don't understand why people are so obsessed with it... )
( It was an intense session, but I still don't understand why people are so obsessed with it... )
Picture Book Monday: Only Opal
Feb. 9th, 2026 08:08 amosprey_archerI was quite excited about the picture book Only Opal: The Diary of a Young Girl, as I’ve been low-key obsessed with Opal Whiteley for years, and what could be better than a book about Opal illustrated by Barbara Cooney?
For those of you who don’t know, Opal Whiteley came to national attention in 1920 when the Atlantic Monthly published her childhood diary, in which young Opal wrote lyrical descriptions of nature and her animal friends, who have Lars Porsenna (the crow) and Brave Horatius (the dog). Some people were and remain bowled over by the beauty of her nature writing. Other people accused Opal of making up the diary wholesale. Would any kid really name a crow Lars Porsenna? It’s just too too precious.
I believe that the diary was real, though. Opal was an extremely bright child, and extremely bright children sometimes do things that strike people who don’t know them as completely unbelievable. She also suffered from a very unfortunate accident of timing, in that she fit perfectly a cultural archetype that was just coming under attack when she published her diary. A child of Nature, growing up in poverty but learning from the trees and the flowers and a few good, solid books (traditionally the Bible and Shakespeare, but in Opal’s case a book of historical figures).
After World War I this whole “child of nature” idea came to be seen as an offshoot of a sickeningly naive vision of human nature that had been exploded by the war. And then here comes Opal Whiteley, presenting to the world this diary supposedly written when she was five and six, which completely embodies this discredited vision. Well, it’s much easier to say “She’s a fraud!” than to wonder “Is there something in the child of nature idea after all?”
Unfortunately, as I recalled as I began to read the picture book, although I find Opal as a person very interesting, I can’t stand her diary. I think it’s a real diary, truly written by Opal as a child, but even in the immensely abridged form of a picture book, it does strike me as too too precious. “One way the road does go to the house of the girl who has no seeing” - good gravy, Opal, just say she’s blind. You named a mouse Felix Mendelssohn! I know you know the word blind!
But of course Barbara Cooney’s illustrations are lovely as always. I particularly liked the picture of the mouse Felix Mendelssohn asleep on a pincushion under a little square of flannel. Just the right level of precious.
For those of you who don’t know, Opal Whiteley came to national attention in 1920 when the Atlantic Monthly published her childhood diary, in which young Opal wrote lyrical descriptions of nature and her animal friends, who have Lars Porsenna (the crow) and Brave Horatius (the dog). Some people were and remain bowled over by the beauty of her nature writing. Other people accused Opal of making up the diary wholesale. Would any kid really name a crow Lars Porsenna? It’s just too too precious.
I believe that the diary was real, though. Opal was an extremely bright child, and extremely bright children sometimes do things that strike people who don’t know them as completely unbelievable. She also suffered from a very unfortunate accident of timing, in that she fit perfectly a cultural archetype that was just coming under attack when she published her diary. A child of Nature, growing up in poverty but learning from the trees and the flowers and a few good, solid books (traditionally the Bible and Shakespeare, but in Opal’s case a book of historical figures).
After World War I this whole “child of nature” idea came to be seen as an offshoot of a sickeningly naive vision of human nature that had been exploded by the war. And then here comes Opal Whiteley, presenting to the world this diary supposedly written when she was five and six, which completely embodies this discredited vision. Well, it’s much easier to say “She’s a fraud!” than to wonder “Is there something in the child of nature idea after all?”
Unfortunately, as I recalled as I began to read the picture book, although I find Opal as a person very interesting, I can’t stand her diary. I think it’s a real diary, truly written by Opal as a child, but even in the immensely abridged form of a picture book, it does strike me as too too precious. “One way the road does go to the house of the girl who has no seeing” - good gravy, Opal, just say she’s blind. You named a mouse Felix Mendelssohn! I know you know the word blind!
But of course Barbara Cooney’s illustrations are lovely as always. I particularly liked the picture of the mouse Felix Mendelssohn asleep on a pincushion under a little square of flannel. Just the right level of precious.
Day 9 Theme - The Scholar
Feb. 9th, 2026 06:27 amcmk418 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
halfamoonToday's theme is The Scholar.
Here are some ideas to get you started: Also know as The Sage, she has studied and seems to have a wealth of knowledge at her disposal. She enjoys teaching others and gives good advice. What is she an expert in? How was her time at school? How do those around her react to her sharing her knowledge?
Just go wherever the Muse takes you. If this prompt doesn't speak to you, feel free to share something that does. You can post in a separate entry or as a comment to this post.
Want to get a jump start on tomorrow's theme? Check out the prompt list in the pinned post at the top of the page. Please don't post until that day.
Here are some ideas to get you started: Also know as The Sage, she has studied and seems to have a wealth of knowledge at her disposal. She enjoys teaching others and gives good advice. What is she an expert in? How was her time at school? How do those around her react to her sharing her knowledge?
Just go wherever the Muse takes you. If this prompt doesn't speak to you, feel free to share something that does. You can post in a separate entry or as a comment to this post.
Want to get a jump start on tomorrow's theme? Check out the prompt list in the pinned post at the top of the page. Please don't post until that day.
#if you’re gonna make them reform I need to know what happened (kuttithevangu)
Feb. 8th, 2026 09:46 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
lannamichaels_tumblr_feedThe other curse I bear is don’t like it when fantasy Jews act reform in the absence of assimilation pressure
#if you’re gonna make them reform I need to know what happened (kuttithevangu)
You Will Rue This Day.
Feb. 9th, 2026 11:15 amrionaleonhartThe concept and characters of The Goes Wrong Show, the BBC theatrical comedy series best known for making me completely lose my mind, originated with The Play That Goes Wrong, an actual stage show that's been running in the West End for over a decade. And, well, I do live in London; if I'm going to go insane over a theatre fandom, I might as well take advantage of that!
Which is to say that Tem, Rei and I went to see The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre last night. It was a lot of fun!
During our meal before the play, my housemates teased me a fair bit for my nerves about seeing my blorbo Robert Grove in person. I tried to express that it was less nerve-racking than seeing him on stage in Christmas Carol Goes Wrong a few weeks ago, when he was actually played by the role's originator, Henry Lewis, the handsomest man in the world.
Riona: It'll be fine. I've already seen him in hard mode. (realising what I've just said) ...so to speak.
I ended up blushing very badly over the course of this conversation.
Tem: You're glowing, Riona. Almost like you've had a rendezvous with the handsomest man in the world and you have some news to share.
The actor playing Robert was good in the role - he was very recognisably the same character, and he had a good strong voice, which I think is essential; you're just not Robert Grove if you're not acting as loudly as possible - but I was tragically unhot for him. It's not your fault, sir; you've got stiff competition. So to speak.
( Notes on seeing The Play That Goes Wrong on stage. )
It's interesting to watch The Play That Goes Wrong, which was the first major Goes Wrong production, and which the creators presumably assumed at the time would be the only major Goes Wrong production. It's very focused on the technical side of things going wrong, with the characters taking more of a back seat (although the characters are still very much there even at this early stage; everyone was easily recognisable despite being played by different actors), and it tries to cram in every disaster it possibly can. By contrast, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, their most recent stage production (not to be confused with the television special of the same name, which had a completely different script), was very character-focused and a lot more restrained when it came to things actually going wrong.
I really enjoy the 'things technically going wrong' aspect; it's a lot of fun, and always beautifully timed! But I'm also glad that, over time, the Goes Wrong universe has started to focus a little more on the characters themselves; I think it helps to keep the concept fresh.
Which is to say that Tem, Rei and I went to see The Play That Goes Wrong at the Duchess Theatre last night. It was a lot of fun!
During our meal before the play, my housemates teased me a fair bit for my nerves about seeing my blorbo Robert Grove in person. I tried to express that it was less nerve-racking than seeing him on stage in Christmas Carol Goes Wrong a few weeks ago, when he was actually played by the role's originator, Henry Lewis, the handsomest man in the world.
Riona: It'll be fine. I've already seen him in hard mode. (realising what I've just said) ...so to speak.
I ended up blushing very badly over the course of this conversation.
Tem: You're glowing, Riona. Almost like you've had a rendezvous with the handsomest man in the world and you have some news to share.
The actor playing Robert was good in the role - he was very recognisably the same character, and he had a good strong voice, which I think is essential; you're just not Robert Grove if you're not acting as loudly as possible - but I was tragically unhot for him. It's not your fault, sir; you've got stiff competition. So to speak.
( Notes on seeing The Play That Goes Wrong on stage. )
It's interesting to watch The Play That Goes Wrong, which was the first major Goes Wrong production, and which the creators presumably assumed at the time would be the only major Goes Wrong production. It's very focused on the technical side of things going wrong, with the characters taking more of a back seat (although the characters are still very much there even at this early stage; everyone was easily recognisable despite being played by different actors), and it tries to cram in every disaster it possibly can. By contrast, Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, their most recent stage production (not to be confused with the television special of the same name, which had a completely different script), was very character-focused and a lot more restrained when it came to things actually going wrong.
I really enjoy the 'things technically going wrong' aspect; it's a lot of fun, and always beautifully timed! But I'm also glad that, over time, the Goes Wrong universe has started to focus a little more on the characters themselves; I think it helps to keep the concept fresh.
If I'm hoping, then I'm hoping for the frost
Feb. 8th, 2026 11:00 pmsovayI am feeling non-stop terrible. I took a couple of pictures in the snow-fallen sunshine this afternoon.
( And be the roots that make the tree. )
spatch sent me a 1957 study of walking directions to Scollay Square. Researcher's notes can be unnecessarily period-typical, but the respondents themselves are wonderful. "You're a regular question-box, aren't you?" It turns out to be part of the basis for a seminal work of urban planning and perception. I like the first draft of the public image of Boston, including its conclusion that it is a deficit to the city not to be thought of as defined by the harbor as much as the river.
( And be the roots that make the tree. )
spatch sent me a 1957 study of walking directions to Scollay Square. Researcher's notes can be unnecessarily period-typical, but the respondents themselves are wonderful. "You're a regular question-box, aren't you?" It turns out to be part of the basis for a seminal work of urban planning and perception. I like the first draft of the public image of Boston, including its conclusion that it is a deficit to the city not to be thought of as defined by the harbor as much as the river.closet case
Feb. 9th, 2026 04:43 amao3_conclave_feedby Juniperly
“Aldo,” a soft voice said, from behind him. “Why are you up here?”
Aldo flinched, and whirled around. Benítez was standing in the doorway, blocking the dim light from the corridor. His soft black hair curled around his ears, brushing against the nape of tanned neck. His eyes were dark and he wore a neatly fitted jacket, hanging over the belt of his jeans. It was a shame he was so pretty, Aldo thought, then realised he had been staring far too long.
..
generic stuck-in-closet smut. art so good it resurrects an author. live laugh love.
Words: 3516, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English
- Fandoms: Conclave (2024), Conclave - Robert Harris
- Rating: Explicit
- Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
- Categories: M/M
- Characters: Aldo Bellini (Conclave), Vincent Benítez (Conclave), Thomas Lawrence (Conclave)
- Relationships: Aldo Bellini/Vincent Benítez (Conclave)
- Additional Tags: background Thomas Lawrence/Raymond O'Malley, Dry Humping, Trapped In A Closet, Hand Jobs, Blow Jobs, Mildly Dubious Consent, Embarrassment, Humiliation, (mild), Light Dom/sub, Alternate Universe - Academia, Rivalry, Hate Sex, Inspired by Fanart, Clothed Sex, not beta read. not even proof-read.
Talking Meme Month - day 8
Feb. 8th, 2026 09:14 pmhafnia(Continuing to harp about this, but if you want to ask a question, you can do so here!)
Worldbuilding I'm most proud of?
That's...a good question. I have built a lot of worlds!
I think the short list has got to be:
1). Hexas (because it's genuinely really fun and I had a great time thinking through e.g. how the fuck it is that certain stuff would work — like, "okay, the Civil War wasn't fought over slavery, because slavery as a concept doesn't really exist in this world — magic changes a hell of a lot of things", eventually settling on "it was fought over acceptable uses of magic, what would or wouldn't be acceptable magic in this setting".
Really interesting to think through how e.g. settlement of the US etc would have worked if not for colonialism. I still think about it sometimes.
shadaras lovingly dubbed "Regency lakefuck world", which is very much a collaborative effort. I think I've written 90% of the text that exists for it (probably more like 95% at this point, good lord), but the worldbuilding and story development were definitely a team effort. It's...weird? And fun? Had to think about the class system, how a world where physical sex is mutable (not fixed) would affect — well, everything. Like, does it make sense for transphobia to exist in a world where changing your physical sex through magic is commonplace and widely accepted? Probably not. So what does exist, then, to drive conflict, and what are players rebelling against?
We ended up talking through a lot vis a vis: social mores and magic, and how it is that these two things tie together in specific ways. It's led to a fair amount of plot, but there's also just lots and lots of weird little bits about how stuff works. Like — if sex is mutable, okay, what does that mean for gender and gender roles? There's also bits about like, "if people live forever and divorce is uncommon, does that mean that non-monogamy is not an issue so long as inheritance isn't complicated by questions of paternity?" &etc.
All of this and it doesn't touch on how magic works in this world, who has access to it, or how other people who are not as long-lived view it. It's fun! And yeah, I'm very proud of it.
The series is here, though if you want a feeling for the world without having to read something E-rated, I will say cheerfully to watch this space, because as soon as stuff reveals forseasonalremix, I will link what it was I wrote that takes place in the same world (though with different characters, it's a little comedy of manners, sort of).
3). The Night Market.
It's...
Imagine if Faery was real, that it still abutted our world in some ways, and the Fey had to change/adapt to keep up with the times.
The Night Market is how I envisioned that working. It's gone through several iterations; I keep meaning to get back to it and finish the book, but I haven't, yet. Eventually, probably.
Worldbuilding I'm most proud of?
That's...a good question. I have built a lot of worlds!
I think the short list has got to be:
1). Hexas (because it's genuinely really fun and I had a great time thinking through e.g. how the fuck it is that certain stuff would work — like, "okay, the Civil War wasn't fought over slavery, because slavery as a concept doesn't really exist in this world — magic changes a hell of a lot of things", eventually settling on "it was fought over acceptable uses of magic, what would or wouldn't be acceptable magic in this setting".
Really interesting to think through how e.g. settlement of the US etc would have worked if not for colonialism. I still think about it sometimes.
2). I'm putting this behind a little spoiler tag because, well, it's kind of...weird; it's about the big project on AO3 so of course if you're like, "I don't want to read about it", good news, you don't have to!
There's also whatshadaras lovingly dubbed "Regency lakefuck world", which is very much a collaborative effort. I think I've written 90% of the text that exists for it (probably more like 95% at this point, good lord), but the worldbuilding and story development were definitely a team effort. It's...weird? And fun? Had to think about the class system, how a world where physical sex is mutable (not fixed) would affect — well, everything. Like, does it make sense for transphobia to exist in a world where changing your physical sex through magic is commonplace and widely accepted? Probably not. So what does exist, then, to drive conflict, and what are players rebelling against? We ended up talking through a lot vis a vis: social mores and magic, and how it is that these two things tie together in specific ways. It's led to a fair amount of plot, but there's also just lots and lots of weird little bits about how stuff works. Like — if sex is mutable, okay, what does that mean for gender and gender roles? There's also bits about like, "if people live forever and divorce is uncommon, does that mean that non-monogamy is not an issue so long as inheritance isn't complicated by questions of paternity?" &etc.
All of this and it doesn't touch on how magic works in this world, who has access to it, or how other people who are not as long-lived view it. It's fun! And yeah, I'm very proud of it.
The series is here, though if you want a feeling for the world without having to read something E-rated, I will say cheerfully to watch this space, because as soon as stuff reveals for
seasonalremix, I will link what it was I wrote that takes place in the same world (though with different characters, it's a little comedy of manners, sort of).3). The Night Market.
It's...
Imagine if Faery was real, that it still abutted our world in some ways, and the Fey had to change/adapt to keep up with the times.
The Night Market is how I envisioned that working. It's gone through several iterations; I keep meaning to get back to it and finish the book, but I haven't, yet. Eventually, probably.
Birds of Bangkok
Feb. 9th, 2026 12:19 pmhalfcactusJust got back from a short solo trip to Bangkok where apparently all I did was look at birds... It was my first time in Thailand ever, and between my relaxation-focused itinerary and the semi-spontaneous meet-up plans on my first two nights (I stayed three), I got to at least familiarize myself with the basics of both train systems and the area around my hotel. I logged 20k–30k steps a day (with an average of 26k steps) but a lot of it was unnecessary walking from having no sense of direction and always getting lost haha! Now my camera roll is full of photos/videos of birds (and reptiles—which deserve their own separate post).
I'm still very new to travel so this is only my second solo trip ever and the first in a country/city I've never been in before. I feel some measure of regret for not eating, shopping, or exploring more, but I'm also pretty happy with the way I traveled—a way that is only possible when I'm by myself. And although I barely slept since I woke up at 3:30AM on Thursday to make my 7:30AM flight, I felt so light and free and open to organic interactions with strangers. (Well, as light and free as one can be when tethered to their phone and fully dependent on Google Maps and power banks. XD)
Maybe one day I'll post about the whole trip but for now—birds!!!
I hope I didn't misidentify any of them:
I'm so pleased to be able to recognize the Asian koel call from Wingspan (the only call I internalized because it's so distinctive and familiar), so every time I heard it I felt like I was in Wingspan hahaha. I didn't see any though, I guess they stayed on the trees. ;___;
Did most of my bird-watching in Benchakitti Park and Lumpini Park where my main goal was to see monitor lizards (I only got to see them in Lumpini Park, but I'm not sure if time of day was a factor), but saw common mynas, pigeons/doves, and sparrows (no picture because they're that common) all over the city. :) I hope to see one of the temples if I get to visit again! I had to trim my itinerary so I wasn't overextending myself to make it to meet-ups, and one of the activities I cut off my list was Wat Pho (reclining Buddha). A reason to go back, I suppose. :) (I should make a list of the places I got recommended during the meet-ups too...)
I'm still very new to travel so this is only my second solo trip ever and the first in a country/city I've never been in before. I feel some measure of regret for not eating, shopping, or exploring more, but I'm also pretty happy with the way I traveled—a way that is only possible when I'm by myself. And although I barely slept since I woke up at 3:30AM on Thursday to make my 7:30AM flight, I felt so light and free and open to organic interactions with strangers. (Well, as light and free as one can be when tethered to their phone and fully dependent on Google Maps and power banks. XD)
Maybe one day I'll post about the whole trip but for now—birds!!!
Pictures
I hope I didn't misidentify any of them:
I'm so pleased to be able to recognize the Asian koel call from Wingspan (the only call I internalized because it's so distinctive and familiar), so every time I heard it I felt like I was in Wingspan hahaha. I didn't see any though, I guess they stayed on the trees. ;___;
Did most of my bird-watching in Benchakitti Park and Lumpini Park where my main goal was to see monitor lizards (I only got to see them in Lumpini Park, but I'm not sure if time of day was a factor), but saw common mynas, pigeons/doves, and sparrows (no picture because they're that common) all over the city. :) I hope to see one of the temples if I get to visit again! I had to trim my itinerary so I wasn't overextending myself to make it to meet-ups, and one of the activities I cut off my list was Wat Pho (reclining Buddha). A reason to go back, I suppose. :) (I should make a list of the places I got recommended during the meet-ups too...)
Obstacle Practice, Firefly
Feb. 8th, 2026 08:16 pmranunculusAnother weekend obstacle practice successfully completed.
This horse is having a good look at that stuff hanging on the fence. I tried for a vaguely Valentine's Day theme, plus the nice shiny, silver insulation from a box that M brought back Alaska Salmon in.
This Arab gelding was showing off as he trotted over the Tic-Tack-Toe.
Lots of people found that the jousting was harder than it looked.
On Saturday we only had four riders (Sunday there were 10). I got Firefly out. She was both very interactive and calm. Sunday I wanted to turn her loose in the arena while I cleaned up. When I went to get her I wanted to ride through the corrals. I started to climb on a fence panel to mount (my knees just won't bounce enough to vault on anymore). Several months ago she had fussed and moved away from the mounting block. At that point I picked up a whip and simply showed it to her. That was enough for her to be very polite when I mount - from her left side. Today's effort was on her right. Horses don't transfer skills from side to side very well. Firefly thought she would just step away. The third time she stepped away I gave her a single, open palm slap on the side she was moving toward. The head went up and she offered to run away from my cruel beating. Then stood nice and quiet and calm while I got on. Today, for the first time, I opened the latch on the two gates from horseback. It wasn't elegant, but it did teach her that the noise was ok, and that the gate would open if she stood in the right place. While I cleaned up the arena, she got to run around in the nice soft sand, and roll. At least sand doesn't stick like the mud in the corral does! When I was done she walked up to me and we went off to a nice patch of green grass for her to graze as a treat. What a greedy thing she is. She stuffed grass in her mouth as fast as she could bite it off for at least 10 minutes, chewing extremely hastily, before slowing down.
Tomorrow is another walk up to the Dogbane patches, this time with some of the local basket weavers. I'm excited about this.
This horse is having a good look at that stuff hanging on the fence. I tried for a vaguely Valentine's Day theme, plus the nice shiny, silver insulation from a box that M brought back Alaska Salmon in.
This Arab gelding was showing off as he trotted over the Tic-Tack-Toe.
Lots of people found that the jousting was harder than it looked.
On Saturday we only had four riders (Sunday there were 10). I got Firefly out. She was both very interactive and calm. Sunday I wanted to turn her loose in the arena while I cleaned up. When I went to get her I wanted to ride through the corrals. I started to climb on a fence panel to mount (my knees just won't bounce enough to vault on anymore). Several months ago she had fussed and moved away from the mounting block. At that point I picked up a whip and simply showed it to her. That was enough for her to be very polite when I mount - from her left side. Today's effort was on her right. Horses don't transfer skills from side to side very well. Firefly thought she would just step away. The third time she stepped away I gave her a single, open palm slap on the side she was moving toward. The head went up and she offered to run away from my cruel beating. Then stood nice and quiet and calm while I got on. Today, for the first time, I opened the latch on the two gates from horseback. It wasn't elegant, but it did teach her that the noise was ok, and that the gate would open if she stood in the right place. While I cleaned up the arena, she got to run around in the nice soft sand, and roll. At least sand doesn't stick like the mud in the corral does! When I was done she walked up to me and we went off to a nice patch of green grass for her to graze as a treat. What a greedy thing she is. She stuffed grass in her mouth as fast as she could bite it off for at least 10 minutes, chewing extremely hastily, before slowing down.
Tomorrow is another walk up to the Dogbane patches, this time with some of the local basket weavers. I'm excited about this.
Superb Owl Sunday
Feb. 8th, 2026 10:37 pmermingardenI enjoyed The Atlantic's annual roundup of superb owl photos (gift link) this morning. I didn't watch the game; my Sunday evening plans were just choir, as usual.
It's been a quiet weekend for me, and a chilly one - weather during the work week was fine, but the temperature absolutely plummeted yesterday, and it looks like more cold ahead.
I have made some progress in Mansfield Park, though I'm still not even halfway through; I just finished the first volume (of three), in fact. Honestly, it took me a while to get into the story, and to get a good sense of the heroine, Fanny - at first, I pitied her but wasn't otherwise too interested, but now I adore her! And on a personal level, as someone who was told many times as a child that she was too sensitive, I love that Fanny's sensitive nature doesn't seem to be condemned or shown as an obstacle she needs to overcome in order to come into her own. It's even a good thing to the extent that it makes her sensitive to others' feelings and needs, and to the demands of propriety - she's socially conscientious, in a way the Bertram siblings are not. What she needs isn't to be less uptight or to grow a thicker skin, but to trust her own judgment more.
Exciting developments planned for the week ahead: I start French classes Tuesday night! I've studied Spanish and Latin, but never French - so wish me bonne chance!
It's been a quiet weekend for me, and a chilly one - weather during the work week was fine, but the temperature absolutely plummeted yesterday, and it looks like more cold ahead.
I have made some progress in Mansfield Park, though I'm still not even halfway through; I just finished the first volume (of three), in fact. Honestly, it took me a while to get into the story, and to get a good sense of the heroine, Fanny - at first, I pitied her but wasn't otherwise too interested, but now I adore her! And on a personal level, as someone who was told many times as a child that she was too sensitive, I love that Fanny's sensitive nature doesn't seem to be condemned or shown as an obstacle she needs to overcome in order to come into her own. It's even a good thing to the extent that it makes her sensitive to others' feelings and needs, and to the demands of propriety - she's socially conscientious, in a way the Bertram siblings are not. What she needs isn't to be less uptight or to grow a thicker skin, but to trust her own judgment more.
Exciting developments planned for the week ahead: I start French classes Tuesday night! I've studied Spanish and Latin, but never French - so wish me bonne chance!
